We’ve all seen them by now: emails trumpeting back-to-school sales; the return of notebooks, backpacks and other items in every brick-and-mortar store, from the sporting goods mega market to the corner deli. And good luck trying to find a decent pair of sandals, shorts or a cute bathing suit while you’re out shopping. If you find any at all, they’ll be on a rack hidden behind the winter coats and sturdy, waterproof shoes.

It’s too soon to succumb to the end-of-summertime blues! Resist! Summer doesn’t officially end till late September. Even if school starts long before then, Labor Day is still about three weeks away, which gives you plenty of time to squeeze in some more vacation fun with your kids. 

Travel makes for lasting memories. There is a variety of get-aways that could find their place in family lore for years to come. The nice thing is, most of the suggestions are scalable: If you don’t have time for a lengthy road trip, just drive a portion of our suggested routes. Or if a 10-day cruise doesn’t fit into your schedule or budget, check out some of the three-three day options. And if you’re not all about fancy hotels or transatlantic flights, consider camping or discovering the wealth of wonderful North American settings you can visit.

Hit the road, build happy memories (you’ll even laugh at the disasters once they’re resolved), unplug and get to know one another better without the distractions of home, chores, to-do lists and screens. For those of you just looking to travel by car, here are the 15 ultimate summer road trips in America. 

Safe travels!

Click here to read about 16 trips to take before the kids go back to school.